Friday, December 21, 2012

My first novel had quite a bit of my personal experience in
it regarding the protagonist’s line of work as a reporter, the foods she
enjoyed, and the way she took her coffee. But for this romantic Christmas
novella, very little of my likes and dislikes appear in the story. True, I was
also an elementary school teacher, as is the heroine, but beyond that, her
character revealed itself to me as I wrote, and I loved getting to know her.

What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?

My husband was a professional rodeo clown and bullfighter
for many years. One summer at the Estes Park Night Rodeo in Colorado, he was
seriously injured and could not continue with the comedy acts he presented
between rodeo events. Forbidden by the doctor to even attend the performances,
he stayed at the motel for three nights while I dressed up in his clown
clothes, painted my face, and with the help of another bullfighter, carried on
with the comedy routines. But that’s where I drew the line – no bullfighting
for me! There’s a story in there somewhere, don’t you think?

When did you first
discover that you were a writer?

I wrote my first story in the sixth grade. The teacher liked
it so well, he asked me to read it in installments one evening during our
class’s science camp in the mountains. Other students performed skits as
“commercials” between the installments, and from that moment, I was hooked on
writing.

Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Fiction opens our eyes and hearts to the truth,
much like the parables that Jesus shared. The power of story can change a
person’s life when the reader or listener relates to a character or that
character’s challenges. Though I write romance, I read across the board, from
contemporary suspense, adventure, and mystery, to Biblical fiction, women’s
fiction, American historical, and mild sci-fi.

How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?

Most mornings I take our Queensland heeler, Blue, to the Riverwalk
where I hide away from everything technological. Only God’s great creation
meets me there: the river, mallards, Canada geese, white-tail deer,
squirrels, songbirds, and bear that kindly just leave their calling card rather
than greet me face-to-face. The seasonal changes wrap the trees in varying
colors and inspire me to show these transitions in my writing. And the quiet –
oh, the quiet! How sweet to hear the Lord’s dear voice while enjoying His
handiwork.

How do you choose
your characters’ names?

True confession: I’m not so good at finding imaginative or
memorable names. When I begin a story, a name comes to me and I stick with it
at least until the tale is told. I’ve changed a few that didn’t feel right, and
searched for others with specific meanings behind their origin. But usually the
character just shows up and introduces herself.

What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Allowing someone to peek through the cracks in my life to
catch a glimpse of God’s redemptive love.

If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?

If I could choose to live a day in an animal’s body, I would
be a bird. Preferably a meadowlark or red tail hawk. How grand it would be to
fly, to defy gravity and spiral skyward on the thermals or sing across the
meadows at dawn. However, sometimes I think I morph into a hummingbird and beat
myself silly with a rush of wing and activity.

What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Life, and all its daily demands, has been my biggest
roadblock. I can’t run off to a cave and immerse myself in story and plot and
characterization—I have to live life. However, overcoming it isn’t the goal,
but rather, not letting it overcome me. Remembering God’s faithfulness, that He
is in control and loves me, is my saving grace. He helps me prioritize and do
the important thing first, not the urgent.

Tell us about the
featured book.

In this contemporary, Colorado Christmas romance, an
elementary school teacher is devastated by her cheating boyfriend. Sticking
with her plans to go home for the holidays, she returns to her grandmother’s
Berthoud Boarding House only to be surprised by the handsome stranger waiting
there.

Please give us the
first page of the book.

Angela Murphy squeezed
her eyes tight against the invisible onion mist and prayed she wouldn’t slice
her fingertips off with the next few strokes. Why did she always get the job of
dicing onions for Mollie’s sweet onion jam? Angela rubbed her sweater sleeve
across her watery eyes. Over the years she had tried everything to prevent the
sting—from holding a slice of bread in her mouth to cutting the onions under
water. Nothing helped, so she cried her way through the process. But this time,
the onions served as a perfect cover for the waterworks coming from her heart.

“Angie, dear.” Mollie
padded into the kitchen and stopped at the stove to check on supper. She lifted
the cast-iron lid from her stew pot, peeked inside at the simmering Swiss steak
and then looked at Angela. “You about finished with those rascals?”

“I’m on the last one
now.”

Mollie walked over and
swept the onion skins and end pieces into her apron and peered into Angela’s
face. “He’s not worth those tears.”

Angela glanced at the
diminutive woman and forced a shaky smile. “You’re right. He’s really not. But
it still hurts.” How did Mollie always know if a tear was real?

“Well, there’s plenty of
fish in the sea—or deer on the mountain—as my Jim used to say.” She emptied her
apron into the wastebasket by the back door. “There are also several
nice-looking young men at the church, I’ve noticed. You might meet someone
there on Sunday.”

Angela’s heart squeezed
at the thought of her adoptive grandmother’s constant husband-hunt. She loved
the woman dearly, the woman who had rescued her from Social Services, and
raised her as her own grandchild. Mollie and Jim were the only family Angela
had ever known.

“I never really cared for
ol’ what’s-his-name anyway,” Mollie said. She opened a lower cupboard door and
pulled out another pot. “A little too wrapped up in himself, if you ask me.”

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Thanks, Robin. So glad you like the cover. I've had several people tell me it reminded them of a Rockwell print. Nicola at Pelican Book Group did a fabulous job. This story will be a great read for relaxing and enjoying the Christmas season.

Hi Davalynn, Thank you for your giveaway. The book being about a elementary school teacher who was devastated by her cheating boyfriend. She was sticking with her plans to go home. I would like to finish reading the book to see what happens. Hope you have a Merry Christmas in celebrating Christ's birth.Norma Stanforth from Ohio